“Pato decided to stay, so we have given up on Tevez. He won’t be coming to Milan,” Galliani told Sky Sport Italia at the Linate Airport.

“The two transfer operations were linked and all of them had various clauses. I believe in fate and remember that when Gianluca Vialli said no, then we brought in Marco Van Basten. If Pato wants to remain, then we hope he will do well with Milan.

“We have the utmost faith in the strikers at our disposal, also trusting in Antonio Cassano’s swift return, as he will become our big new signing.”

Cassano is expected to be out until the end of the season after surgery on a congenital heart defect.

“Will Tevez go to Inter? I have considered this as a possibility, but prefer to keep it to myself. I am in any case very happy that Pato has made this decision.

“I do know what is happening with Tevez, but don’t want to comment right now. Will we call Manchester City again? We’ll see.”